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W. H. COTTON AND C. H. KEHM.

VENT FOR HOT WATER RADIATORS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28,1919.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

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mum-GD fn enaamt' W. H. COTTON AND C. H. KEHM.

VENT FOR HOT WATER RADIATORS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28. m9.

1 326,897. Patented Dec. 30,1919.

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L\J Inventor Walter j] C (arena-9X 159/5"! UNITED STATEg PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER ,H. COTTON AND CLARENCE H. KEHM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VENT FOR HOT-WATER RADIATORS.

Application filed June 28, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, lVAI/rnn 1L.COTTON and CLARENCE H. Karim, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago,

county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vents for Hotater Radiators, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

A diflieulty with hot water heating as at present practised is that some of" the air which water usually holds by absorption is released in the radiator as the water circulates and collects to the exclusion of a like volume of water. This collection may con tinue until a large part of the radiator becomes filled with air which cuts down the heat radiating surface by just that much. It has been necessary, when the radiator reached this condition, to engage a plumber or steam fitter to open the radiator to allow the air to escape.

[in object of the present invention is to provide automatic means to allow trapped air to escape from a hot water radiator without allowing water to escape.

Illustrative embodimentsof the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-:

Figure 1* is a vertical section through a vent means showing a portionio't' a radiator partly in elevation,

Fig. 2 is a detail section on line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the float cham her only,

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a radiator illustrating a different form of the invention,

Fig. 5 is a detail Section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4',

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the float chamber of Figs. 4' and 5 removed from the radiator,

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view illustrating avalve used in a modification of our device.

A column of a hot water radiator is shown at 10. The water in such a radiator is under pressure, either the pressure of the city water supply or due to the head from an elevated expansion tank situated above the highest radiator of the heating system. Trapped air indicated in Fig. 1, as above the level of 11 istherefore under the same pressure.

To permit the accumulated air to escape through means controlled by the level of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

Serial No. 307,321.

water there is provided a float chamber, as 12, containing a float. as 13. A vent opening, as ll, is formed in a screw plug, as 15, in the top of the float chamber.

For the purpose of permitting escape of air and preventing that of water, a needle plunger, as 16, is carried by float l3 preferably secured thereto by means of a head 17 on the plunger which is slipped through a cut-away portion 18 of a retaining means 19 secured to the top of the float as by soldering.

The plunger may be guided in its reciprocation by a tube, as 20, carried by the screw plug and a passage for the air may be provided by the space outside of tube 20 and by openings, as 21, adj accnt the top of the tube.

Float 13' is preferably so constructed as not to possess a. great excess of buoyancy, in order that it may not tend to close the vent until the water has risen to a fairly high level. To further retard the closing of the vent, the current of air entering the float chamber from the radiator through the connecting tube 22 is utilized. As a means of so utilizing this air current there is shown a deflector as 23, in the path of the entering current of air by which the air will be deflected" so as to impinge on the top of the float 13. By reason of this air current holding the float depressed, the air vent will not be closed until the water has risen nearly or quite. to the level of the mouth of tube 22, when water will begin to enter the float chamber through tube. 22 cutting ofl the flow of air to some extent and also raising the level of the water in thefloat chamber, both events tending to allow and cause the float to rise and close the vent so that no water can escape.

To permit the water level in the float chamber to adjust itself as the air accumulates and escapes and the level in the radiator varies, there is shown a pipe connection, as 24, from the bottom of the float chamber to the radiator.

It may be desirable to retard the return of water to the float chamber as the air escapes in order to assist the depression of the float by the air current or as a substitute for such depression. To this end there is shown a restricted opening, as 25, as an outlet from the float chamber. The fall of water as the air accumulates is very gradual being a matter of hours and the water from the float chamber can easily escape through this restricted: opening. to keep pace with. the lowering of water level in the radiator. The venting of air is, however, a matter of seconds and the water will not be able to get access to the float chamber through this restricted opening so as to lift the float until the level has reached the level of the mouth of the tube 22, and may be assisted by inflow of water through tube 22.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and6, in which the float chamber, as 28, is located within the radiator, as 29, and has its interior closed by a cap, as 30, exposed upon the exterior of the radiator. Cap 30 carries the vent opening 31, situated in a screw plug exactly like plug 15 bearing guide tube 32, provided with air passages 33.

Connection of the top of the float chamber with the radiator is provided by aper tures, as 34, and a deflector to cause entering air currents to be deflected downwardly so as to impinge on the float, is provided at 35, in the form of a hollow truncated cone.

The bottom of the float chamber in this form of the invention may be closed by a screw closure, as 36, having a restricted opening, as 37, therein for purposes already explained.

The action of the restricted opening 25 or 37 in retarding the return of the Water to the radiator may be supplemented or en tirely supplanted by the valve illustrated in Fig. 7 This valve may replace the elbowat the bottom of pipe 24 of Fig. 1, or by screwing a short nipple into the threaded portion 39, the valve may be applied directly to the opening 37 of Fig. 5, the open end 40 of the valve then being in direct communication with the water of the radiator.

As shown, the valve 38 comprises the threaded sockets 89, 40. A ball valve 41 coacts with a seat, as 42, to allow water to leave the float chamber by way of socket 39, channel 43, valve and socket 40. but does not allow water to reenter the float chamber. To permit of introduction of the ball to its place, as well as to govern the amplitude of its movement, screw 45 is provided. having an end projecting into the vicinity of the valve. As a convenient means of drilling channel 43, and to provide access thereto for cleaning purposes, it is extended to the surface of the body of the fixture and closed b means of a screw plug 44. Preferably the entire structure. including the ball, is made of non-corrodible material, as brass. When made in the form shown the valve will be quite sensitive, the ball being small. allowing water to leave the float hamber upon a very slight difference in head. The water must return to the float chamber, when the valve is used, entirely by way of passage 22 or holes 34, at the top f the float chamber.

It will be evident that various changes may be made in the physical embodiment of the invention without departing from its spirit.

l/Ve claim as our invention 1. In a vent means, in combination, a float chamber adapted to be placed in communication at its upper and lower portions with a liquid container, a float in said chamber, an air vent in said chamber, means controlled by said float for closing said vent, and means to prevent the float from rising until the air has substantially all escaped.

2. In a vent means, in combination, a float chamber, means for connecting the upper and the lower portions of said chamber with a liquid container, said float chamber having an air vent in its upper portion, a float in said chamber, means controlled by said float for closing said vent, and means to permit liquid to escape through said lower connecting means and to interfere with free inflow of liquid through the same.

3. A hot water radiator, in combination,

with a float chamber having its interior at top and bottom'in communication with the interior of said radiator, theuppe'rcommunication being adjacent the top of the radiator, a float in said chamber, an air vent in the top of said chamber, a projection at the top of the floatfor closing said vent, and means to prevent said float from rising until the air has substantially all escaped.

4. In a vent means for a hot water radiator, in combination, a float chamber, means for connecting the chamber, at top and bottom with a hot Water radiator, a float in said chamber, means adjacent the upper connecting means adapted to downwardly direct air entering from the radiator so as to impinge upon the float, a vent in said chamber, and means on the float for closing said vent.

5. In a vent means for a hot water radiator, in combination, a float chamber, a float in said chamber, means to connect said chamber at top and bottom with a hot water radiator, a vent in saidchamber, means actuated by the float to control said vent, and a deflector in the path of air entering said chamber through said top connecting means, adapted to direct the air downwardly so as to impinge on said float to retard flotation thereof.

6. In a vent means for a hot water radiator, in combination, a float chamber, means for connecting the chamber at its top and bottom with the interior of the radiator, said float chamber having an air vent in the top thereof, a float in said chamher, a projection at the top of the float for closing said vent, and means to permit water to escape through said bottom connection and to interfere with free inflow of water through the same.

WALTER H. COTTON.

CLARENCE H. KEIIM. 

